Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerJamie Langenbrunner returned from injury in Game 6 and played 24 shifts over 16:26 of ice time.

NOTEBOOK

RALEIGH, N.C. -- And this is why home ice matters.

"I guess that's why you play all year, to get that home ice advantage for Game 7s," Devils coach Brent Sutter said Sunday night. "And yet you've got to go out and do it now. We've got 48 hours to get ready to play. Both teams are in the same boat. You've got to expect it's going to be a great game.

"Yeah we have home ice advantage, but we have to take advantage of it, too. This group -- I'm talking about our team -- obviously has to play better than we did (Sunday) night."

Goalie Martin Brodeur echoed those thoughts.

"We'll get some rest. We've been playing well at home all year," he said. "We got home-ice advantage for a reason. People ask why we played all year for home ice. This is why."

Captain Jamie Langenbrunner, who missed the previous three games with a lower body injury, played 24 shifts and saw 16:26 of ice time.

"I felt fine. My timing was a little off. Everything else was good. This is not the way I envisioned it," he said of his comeback.

Sutter noted: "It's Jamie's first game back. He's been out a week. I thought at times that line looked in sync and at times they tried to force too much."

One disappointment was the Devils' power play, which went 0-for-2.

"Our power play was brutal," Sutter said. "That's a reflection of the way the whole game was."

With Langenbrunner back, Brian Rolston moved to centering the fourth line with Mike Rupp and David Clarkson. Bobby Holik came out of the lineup.

Bryce Salvador wanted to make the trip south with his teammates and he was able to take part in Sunday's morning skate. The veteran defenseman also wanted to play Sunday night and, although Salvador felt he was ready to play, Sutter decided to hold him out.

"You always think you can play. I'm disappointed not to be playing this game and the last game, but it might not be the right decision to play," Salvador said. "I look for the positive in everything. It could've been a lot worse. The outcome I had, I'll take this over what could have been. You can't control someone falling on your leg."

Sutter said the decision to keep Salvador, who was wearing a new brace on his left knee during the morning skate, out of the lineup was based on his not being ready and the way Andy Greene played in Game 5.

"Could be a little of both," Sutter said. "This is his first time on the ice. That being said, I like the way our six guys played the other night. No need to make a change."

With temperatures well over 90 degrees Saturday and again Sunday, ice conditions in the RBC Center were a concern.

Langenbrunner said: "That's playoff hockey in every arena. It's 90 degrees in Jersey right now. Every rink is going to have these issues. Both teams play on it."